"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Today's MISM project is a card that features a birthday gift from my sweet niece and her family . . . the "Sewing Room" Sizzix die.  I have wanted this die for a little while and could hardly wait to use it!  Of course, most of the products used to create  this card are from Stampin' Up! and include Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla card stock, "Pennant Parade" stamp set, designer buttons, linen thread, "Just Add Cake" designer paper, 3/4" circle punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, and the Petite Pennants builder punch.  Haley, if you see this blog post, THANK YOU so much for this fun die!!!

SPICE CAKE PENNANTS

I needed a "thank you" card this week and, of course, it had to be square.  All products used to create this card are from Stampin' Up! and include "Pennant Parade" stamp set, Early Espresso quilted ribbon (gorgeous), "Spice Cake" designer paper, pearl jewels, Square Lattice embossing folder, and the following punches:  3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circles, Petite Pennants Builder, and the scallop-edge circle from Itty Bitty Shapes.  Card stock colors are Pool Party, More Mustard, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla.  Well, I'm off to spend some time with my family.  I hope that you, too, have something fun planned for today!

JULIE'S "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" PROJECT

Is it really Friday already????  Where has this week gone?  For her Freestyle Fridays project, it appears that Julie has used Stampin' Up!'s "Forever Young" stamp set.  This particular image is one of my favorites in the current catalog, and I like how Julie has given (sparkly) life to the tree!  We'll have to visit her blog to get more details about this card, and I know she'd appreciate feedback.  Have a wonderful Friday, a safe weekend, and visit me on Monday for another "snappy" project.

"SPICE CAKE" VINTAGE ADORNMENT

I {heart} Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio software!  Seriously . . . I love using this program!  Most of the time, I keep things really simple by choosing an 8.5" x 11" individual page and create a design that I can print, cut to size, and use on a card.  And that's how this card got its start.  I started with a square punch, filled it with Crumb Cake color, added the script image from "French Foliage", added a scallop square, filled it with Spice Cake designer paper, and gave it a drop-shadow.  The bluish floral image was created by using assorted sizes of Very Vanilla Vintage Adornment Flowers, which were given drop-shadows in Baja Breeze, Pool Party, and Crumb Cake.  The final digital addition to the design was the crochet trim.  After the design was printed and cut, I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink, adhered it to a Pool Party layer, and then used brads to adhere it to the Very Vanilla layer, which was embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the Very Vanilla layer to a Soft Suede square card.  And the best part of all?  I can whip up another card just like this one by printing the image again!  What's not to love about that?

THERE'S A SKUNK IN THESE WOODS

I recently purchased the "Campin' Critters" cartridge, which arrived two days ago, and today was the day to make something with it.  I think this skunk exiting the outhouse is so adorable . . . and with toilet paper stuck to his paw!  I used the Gypsy to design the circle card, my Cricut Expression to make all of the cuts, and then I adhered all of the layers to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I will send this card to my grandmother, and I know she'll enjoy it.

"CHRISTMAS DREAMS" WINNER



Congratulations, Karin!!!

random.org chose the 8th comment on my blog, which was yours, so you will receive a FREE pass to the "Christmas Dreams" session on Stampin' Fun and Friends.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments!  Don't forget that Early Bird registration ($15) will end soon--the price for the "Christmas Dreams" session will go up on November 2nd.  To register, just click on the red and yellow button at the top of the sidebar on the right side of my blog.  

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

I love the way Stampin' Up!'s embossing folders can carry a card design!  Whenever you're short on time or need to make a card quickly, just reach for an embossing folder (or two).  For today's MISM card, I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder on the large Very Vanilla layer, and one of the Designer Frames folders was used for the focal point on the smaller vanilla layer.  I stamped the ornament (from the "Tree Trimmings" stamp set) onto Very Vanilla card stock using Pacific Point ink and then placed it in the oval embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot.  I used the Lucky Limeade to color the white areas of the stamped image, and finished off the design with a pearl jewel.  Other Stampin' Up! products used were scallop dots ribbon, linen thread, and Lucky Limeade card stock.

IT'S A HOLIDAY BLOG HOP!!!!!

I'm so pleased to share three projects in the North Carolina Stampin' Up! demonstrators' first blog hop!!  You may be arriving from Lisa Tedder's blog where she featured the Simply Scored tool or perhaps you're just starting here--either way, WELCOME!  The stamp set that I'm featuring in this blog hop is "Stitched Stockings," and my first project is a treat packet that holds a single serving of coffee. I used My Digital Studio to design the focal point for this pouch, and the "coffee mug" was created with the Stitched Stockings stamp set by altering the stamped and punched image.  The 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches were used to create the handle for the mug.  The digital products used for the decorative label on this project include:  Established Elegance, Frames with a Flourish, and Wishes & Greetings stamp brush sets; Modern Label and Curly Label punches; Staple & Stitching embellishment.  Other accessories used include Real Red satin ribbon, linen thread, Word Window punch,  Stampin' Dimensionals, and "Holly Berry Bouquet" specialty designer paper.

My second project - a Criss Cross Box - also features the gorgeous "Holly Berry Bouquet" designer paper.  This is such an easy box to create, and it is quite a great size!  Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scored tool really came in handy for scoring the card stock for the box and the polka dot rosette.  Behind the rosette, I used waffle paper purchased from Stampin' Up!'s clearance rack.  The rosette was finished off with a scallop circle (embossed with the Snow Burst embossing folder), a Real Red blossom from the Boho Blossoms punch, and a linen thread bow on top of a Neutrals designer button.  My favorite part of this project is the stocking, which features red glimmer paper and pearl jewels.  Other Stampin' Up! products used for this project include rhinestone jewel, Wild Wasabi card stock and ink, Real Red ink, tag punches, and "Grateful Greetings" stamp set.

And now . . . my third (and favorite) of my three Blog Hop projects . . . an oversized card that could easily be made into a framed art decoration.  The hardest part of this project, of course, was deciding how to decorate my four panels but, in the end, I was very pleased with how it all came together. 

All products used to create this project are from Stampin' Up! and include:  

Stamp Sets:  Stitched Stockings, Delightful Decorations, Tiny Tags; Punches:  1" and 3/4" Circle, Stocking Builder, Ornament, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Snowflake, Corner Rounder; Sizzix:  Serif Essentials Alphabet, Snow Burst embossing folder; Accessories:  Glimmer brads, Baker's twine, Scallop Dots ribbon, designer button, Stampin' Dimensionals, rhinestone jewels, Dazzling Details (glitter glue); Card Stock & Ink:  Old Olive, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

I hope you've enjoyed these projects, and I'd love to hear your feedback!  To continue on the Blog Hop, your next stop is Sharon Maranich's blog.  You can bet she has some creative projects featuring the "Gift Givers" stamp set.

MY "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" WREATH PROJECT

ETA:  (10/20/11) I know that today isn't Friday, but I scheduled this post to show up on Friday (10/21) a.m.  I'm not sure why it's already here, but . . . we'll just call it "Freestyle ThurFriday"  Thanks, Blogspot!

Last week, with her gorgeous Fall wreath, Julie challenged me to create a wreath project.  I had all kinds of ideas bouncing around in my head and was looking forward to the mission, but it wasn't long before the wreath that I was so excited about (in my head) just wasn't turning out too spectacular.  It was one of "those" projects that no matter what you add next, something is still missing, lacking, off, unacceptable, etc.  Finally, I decided to pull another idea and run with it . . . a paper cone wreath.  Even though this one doesn't have an open center, it is a mini wreath, nonetheless.  The paper cones were a tiny challenge to begin with because I've never been very good at forming a cone from a square or rectangle, but then it occurred to me to use a circle.  Perfect--and easy!  Everything about this project is from Stampin' Up! . . . the designer papers are from First Edition, Spice Cake, and a retired paper collection, and they are all 2-3/8" scallop circles; the More Mustard ribbon is a retired product; and the "Give Thanks" banner was created with My Digital Studio using the "Hand-Penned Holidays" stamp brush set.  All of the cones were adhered with hot glue to a 3.5" circle (Sizzix die).

QUICKIE FLORA & FAUNA

While cleaning the stamp room tonight and moving a few things around, I uncovered a stamp set that I bought on clearance, probably close to a year ago.  I had never opened it and couldn't remember what possessed me to purchase it at the time, so I decided to take a break and challenge myself to create a quick card with it.  Here it is!  While the stamp set and designer paper are not from Stampin' Up!, the Lucky Limeade and Soft Suede card stock are, as well as the Island Indigo ruffled ribbon.  It looks like I have a blank masculine card ready to be signed, sealed, and delivered.